Sunday, September 16, 2012

Teen breaks 200 breast world record

GIFU — Schoolboy Akihiro Yamaguchi set a new world record in winning the men's 200-meter breaststroke final on Saturday at the National Sports Festival.

News photoSpecial achievement: Swimmer Akihiro Yamaguchi shatters the world record in the 200-meter men's breaststroke on Saturday in Gifu, finishing his race in 2 minutes, 7.01 seconds at the National Sports Festival in Gifu. KYODO

Yamaguchi, 18, powered home in 2 minutes, 7.01 seconds at Nagaragawa Swimming Plaza, slicing 0.27 off the previous world mark set by Hungary's Daniel Gyurta at the London Olympics.

The third-year high school student, who had earlier reached the final with a meet record, broke the national mark of former two-time 100 and 200 Olympic champion Kosuke Kitajima had held for 11 years by 0.50.

"To be honest, I was aiming to go under 2.7," said Yamaguchi. "I am looking forward to next year's world championships (in Barcelona, Spain). I want to be a successor to Kitajima-san, a swimmer I look up to. I think I can cut it in the 200 at the world level and want to challenge in the 100, too."


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